Barriers to entry: Key concepts to grow as a dog owner

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it until either my mouth or your ears fall off: Taking care of a dog can be overwhelming. What do we do when surrounded by conflicting information with no idea where to start?

Getting past a few “barriers to entry” helped me better understand my blue heeler. These core concepts enabled me to make intentional judgments about our training methods, develop go-to strategies to handle specific situations (like her fear-based dog reactivity), and simply enjoy our life together.

Here are the ideas that made my role as a dog owner click.

My forever disclaimer

Our dog training and ownership journey never ends. There is always more to learn! And everyone’s foundation is different. In my experience, coming back to the following concepts helps put new information into perspective so I can stay motivated instead of overwhelmed.

This article was first written on October 22nd 2020 and last updated in November 2023. It’s not 100 percent comprehensive but gets at th…